Discovering new English idioms and expressions can be a lot of fun. They will help you feel more confident in English. Using idiomatic expressions will help you sound more like a native-speaker and build stronger relationships. However, it can also be frustrating, especially when you hear them for the first time in a setting where you want to make the best impression. In this post, you will find a compilation with all the idioms you need to know for the workplace. You can also download this free idioms guide with 70+ idioms to use at work. You think you got this? Take this idioms quiz and test your level.
An idiom is a group of words that is expressed in a fixed order that has a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word on its own.
Most idioms and expressions you’ll come across in office environments are throwaway lines that are not industry specific. In other words, knowing them has nothing to do with how well you do your job. But because they come up so often in conversation, in meetings, and in emails, it’ll be important for your language learning to know when and how to use them.
Idioms will help you feel more confident in English for different reasons. First of all, you will be able to understand native-English speakers more easily. Idiomatic expressions are part of our day-to-day conversations, and they are all too common in today's business world. By understanding all those odd-sounding phrases, you will be able to follow the conversation with ease.
Learning idioms is also a great way to use new phrases in context. When you learn a new idiom, you usually learn the whole expression in a specific situation –rather than isolated words out of context. This means that whenever a similar situation arises, you will have a 'pre-packaged' phrase or idiom ready to use.
The ultimate confidence-booster with idioms is that you will be able to express yourself more similar to how you do it in your native language. You also have idioms in your mother tongue, and learning those equivalents in English will give you the edge you're missing. Idioms allow you to be more subtle and funny, even in more sensitive situations. They are a great way of saying something without actually having to spell it out.
Keep scrolling to find all the topics, but if you're looking for a list with the must-know idioms, here are the 30 most common ones in business.
1) Learn the ropes 🪢 2) That won’t cut it ✂️ 3) The ball is in your court 🎾 4) Behind the scenes 🎭 5) On the same page 📄 6) Sleep on it 😴 7) Call it a day 👋🏼 8) In a nutshell 🥜 9) It's a long shot ⛹🏻 10) To touch base ⚾ 11) Kill two birds with one stone 🦜🦜 12) Let’s table it 🙊 13) In the same boat ⛵ 14) In the bag 💰 15) Move the needle 🪡 |
16) Lots of moving parts ⚙️🔩 17) Get your ducks in a row 🦆🦆 18) Put out fires 🔥 19) Cut corners ✂️ 20) On a shoestring 👟 21) Cut to the chase 🏃🏽🚓 22) Bend over backwards 🤸🏼♂️ 23) A win-win situation 🏆🏆 24) Cool as a cucumber 🥒 25) Go back to the drawing board 🎨🖌️ 26) Hot potato 🥔 27) Beat the clock ⏰ 28) Take with a grain of salt 🧂🤏🏼 29) Think outside the box 📦💡 30) The elephant in the room 🐘 |
Great idiom for when you're starting new job or learning a new skill. If you are going to sail, you will need to learn how to tie knots and manipulate the ropes that move the sails in the best way possible. That is the origin of our third idiom!
Meaning: Learn how to do things or learn how things work.
Examples:
Keep reading: 8 Top English Idioms for Successful First Steps! [Pocast]
So, the question you might have is “Cut what?” Imagine a pair of scissors trying to cut through steel. It’s not enough. It won’t work. Whatever method you are using to solve your problem is simply insufficient.
Meaning: That will not be enough to do a task or cope with a situation.
Examples:
From the world of ships we go now to the world of sports. Whether it comes from tennis or from basketball, the idea is clear: it’s your turn to make a move.
Meaning: It’s your turn to make a decision or do something.
Examples:
The equator of our list takes us to the theatre. Behind the scenes was originally used to talk about those events in a play that happen off stage, where the audience cannot see.
Meaning: Done privately or secretly, rather than publicly.
Examples:
It seems that the origin of this idiom is attributed to choral singing, when all singers had to be on the same page to be able to sing all together the same song.
Meaning: Understand each other and agree.
Examples:
Meaning: Delay making a decision on something until the following day.
Example:
Keep reading: 10 Helpful Decision Making Phrases [Podcast]
Meaning: Decide to stop working or doing an activity.
Examples:
How much can you fit inside a nutshell? Not much. Shakespeare’s Hamlet uses it to mean something compact when he says ‘I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams’.
Meaning: In summary, in a few words.
Examples:
Keep reading: Delicious Food Idioms You'll Hear At Work
Unless you’re Michael Jordan, long shots tend to have a small chance of succeeding. This is basically the idea of this idiom. It is often followed by "but", as we use it to indicate that despite the odds, we will try anyways.
Meaning: An attempt or guess with very small chance of succeeding or being accurate.
Examples:
I bet you guessed, but just in case, this phrase refers to the rule that a runner in baseball must touch the base on which he/she is standing before running to the next base. In business, before taking an important action, you often “touch base” to get approval or make sure that it is a good idea.
Meaning: Briefly make or renew contact with someone. To update someone or have a quick conversation with them.
Examples:
Meaning: Solve two problems with one action or solution.
Example:
Keep reading: 12 Perfect Success Idioms To Show Off At Work
Meaning: Postpone a discussion or activity until later. Usually used near the end of a meeting when a conversation is dragging and everyone just wants to go home.
Example:
Meaning: To be in the same bad or difficult situation.
Examples:
Meaning: Certain or sure to be won, achieved, or obtained.
Examples:
Keep reading: 30 Must-Know Idioms About Negotiations & Agreements
Meaning: To make a difference; to have a noticeable impact on something.
Examples:
Meaning: A complicated situation with a lot of variables or components. Usually used when it would take too long to explain something in detail.
Example:
There are a couple of theories regarding the origin of this idiom. The most obvious (and adorable) one is the way mother ducks organize their ducklings to walk in straight lines while travelling.
Meaning: Getting yourself organized before doing something.
Examples:
Meaning: To deal with emergencies rather than ordinary day-to-day tasks.
Example:
Keep reading: Your New 6 Idioms About Problems [Podcast]
Meaning: To skip small but important steps.
Examples:
Meaning: With very little money, with a small budget.
Examples:
Keep reading: Top Money Idioms You Need... At All Costs
Meaning: Get to the point, stop wasting time with chit chat.
Example:
Meaning: Go through a lot of trouble or discomfort to help someone out.
Examples:
Meaning: A situation where every outcome is a good outcome.
Example:
Did you know that the inside of a cucumber is about 20 degrees cooler than the outside air? Well, this might be the origin of this idiom.
Meaning: Extremely calm, relaxed, and in control of your emotions.
Examples:
Meaning: Start over and go back to the beginning or the planning stage.
Example:
Keep reading: Problems at Work? Learn These 18 Idioms About Challenges
You may use this one if you work with international teams! A hot potato is definitely something you don’t want to hold with your bare hands for a long time, because it would burn your fingers. The idea here is that you are dealing with something you want to pass on as quickly as possible, just like a literal hot potato.
Meaning: A controversial subject that no one wants to talk about; often an issue that makes everyone feel uncomfortable.
Examples:
Meaning: Finish something before time is up, before a deadline.
Example:
Keep reading: Once In A Blue Moon... And Other Great Time Idioms
Meaning: Be a bit skeptical about it. Only believe part of it. (UK version: take with a grain of salt)
Example:
Keep reading: Top 11 Idioms About Talking To Show Off At Work
This idiom has become cliché (completely overused) in the business world, in particular. Yet, like the Energizer Bunny, it keeps on going. Small business owners are encouraged to “think outside of the box” when it comes to developing new ways to market their products. You probably gathered that this expression has nothing to do with actual boxes, but perhaps you can imagine your brain as a box. All of your run-of-the-mill (average) thoughts exist inside of the box, but your boss, teacher, or mentor wants you to reach beyond that to where the new and exciting ideas exist.
Meaning: think in an original, creative way.
Example:
Keep reading: 8 Helpful Idioms About Solving Problems For Every Situation
Meaning: An obvious issue people don't want to talk about.
Example:
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[Article originally posted in September 2018 and updated in January 2022]